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Windows worm trickery for Vista
BBC ^ | Wednesday, 21 January 2009 11:33 GMT, | BBC Staff

Posted on 01/21/2009 6:56:41 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach

The Conficker virus has opened a new can of worms for security experts.

Drives such as USB sticks infected with the virus trick users into installing the worm, according to researchers.

The "Autoplay" function in Vista and early versions of Windows 7 automatically searches for programs on removable drives.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: autoplay; lowqualitycrap; malware; microsoft; vista; windows
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1 posted on 01/21/2009 6:56:42 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: ShadowAce

more crap update.


2 posted on 01/21/2009 6:57:25 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s56/mclark4959/OF.jpg


3 posted on 01/21/2009 6:59:24 AM PST by GoldMan (Never try to rationalize an irrational mind............)
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To: rdb3; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; GodGunsandGuts; CyberCowboy777; Salo; Bobsat; JosephW; ...

4 posted on 01/21/2009 6:59:33 AM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
The "Autoplay" function in Vista and early versions of Windows 7 automatically searches for programs on removable drives.

Autoplay is always the first "feature" I turn off on any new Windows computer. I have never, ever wanted to automatically run a program or access data on a disk or memory stick without me taking a positive action to do it. From the beginning I considered Autoplay a gaping hole in Windows security.

5 posted on 01/21/2009 7:00:53 AM PST by KarlInOhio (On 9/11 Israel mourned with us while the Palestinians danced in the streets. Who should we support?)
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To: GoldMan

6 posted on 01/21/2009 7:10:09 AM PST by Perdogg (Only the hypnotized never lie)
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To: GoldMan
I think you mean:


7 posted on 01/21/2009 7:10:44 AM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: KarlInOhio

Good point. Can you share how to turn off this feature in windows for others that would like to do the same? Thanks.


8 posted on 01/21/2009 7:11:26 AM PST by Blue Highway
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To: GoldMan

Bookmarking.....LOL


9 posted on 01/21/2009 7:12:32 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Can you image who these douche bags are who sit around all day inventing worms to enhance their own pathetic egos?? God, what worthless trash.


10 posted on 01/21/2009 7:17:23 AM PST by Doc Savage ("Are you saying Jesus can't hit a curve ball? - Harris to Cerrano - Major League)
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To: Doc Savage

It’s almost as bad as sitting around writing inauguration poems.


11 posted on 01/21/2009 7:40:48 AM PST by Raster Man
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To: Blue Highway
Good point. Can you share how to turn off this feature in windows for others that would like to do the same? Thanks.

Turn off autoplay for Vista

12 posted on 01/21/2009 7:43:23 AM PST by TheCipher
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To: Blue Highway
Good point. Can you share how to turn off this feature in windows for others that would like to do the same? Thanks.

Usually I use the TweakUI program downloadable from Microsoft in their PowerToys set of programs. I don't have an address for it but it should be easy to search for.

13 posted on 01/21/2009 7:47:39 AM PST by KarlInOhio (On 9/11 Israel mourned with us while the Palestinians danced in the streets. Who should we support?)
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To: Blue Highway

On the link, they are not too clear about what to click in Control Panel. It is the Autoplay Icon


14 posted on 01/21/2009 7:48:46 AM PST by TheCipher
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To: TheCipher

FWIW, the instruction to “Open your Control Panel, and then click on “Play CDs or other media automatically” to open the AutoPlay dialog.” might be misleading. I found it in Control Panel => Autoplay.


15 posted on 01/21/2009 7:50:48 AM PST by randog (Tap into America!)
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To: KarlInOhio

They don’t have a tweak UI for Vista or Windows 7 yet that I know of. I did click the link to be able to turn of the autoplay notification. I will test it to see if it makes a difference.


16 posted on 01/21/2009 7:51:48 AM PST by Blue Highway
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To: randog

Yes that is correct.


17 posted on 01/21/2009 7:52:50 AM PST by Blue Highway
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To: randog

Yeah, i saw that and posted where to look just before you did :-)


18 posted on 01/21/2009 7:54:44 AM PST by TheCipher
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To: Doc Savage
Can you image who these douche bags are who sit around all day inventing worms to enhance their own pathetic egos?? God, what worthless trash.

No doubt they're douche bags, but their ego has very little to do with their motivation in creating these nasties.  They do it to surreptitiously gain access and then control of user's computers so as to use them to send out spam email or some other profit motivated slimeball activity.  Any ego stroking is just a collateral effect of making money. 

19 posted on 01/21/2009 1:08:26 PM PST by MichiganMan (Look I know you need that big vehicle to...compensate. But dont then whine about the cost to fill it)
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To: Blue Highway

For Windows 2000 through Windows XP SP3, for both 32 and 64 bit versions, and Windows Server NT through Server 2003 builds, you can use TweakUI from Microsoft Powertoys. It’s free.

For Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7 and I think Windows 7 Server Beta, you can use TweakVI from TotalIdea Software. The Basic version is free, the full versions cost some money.

http://www.download.com/TweakVI-Basic/3000-2094_4-10584178.html
http://www.totalidea.com/

Everything that can be done in both TweakUi and TweakVI can be done manually be the user or system admin, but both are handy tools for saving a bit of time and also simplifying the process of shutting down parts of Windows that are problematic, such as AutoPlay.


20 posted on 01/21/2009 4:15:56 PM PST by JerseyHighlander
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